Biography

Altschuler got his bachelors degree from Princeton University and studied as a Fulbright Scholar in Vienna, Austria. He earned a masters in Business Administration from Harvard University. He is the executive chairman of CloudBlue, an electronic recycling service provider.[2]

Issues

Campaign themes

"Keeping the promises made to our seniors by ensuring both Medicare and Social Security remain solvent for future generations. Failure to act now will result in either an immediate 17% cut in benefits or a 24% tax increase in order to avoid Medicare going bankrupt in the next decade. That is an unacceptable outcome. Republicans have put forth a serious plan addressing Medicare and now it’s time for Democrats to do the same so we can have a substantive national debate on this important issue. Ultimately, there is no Republican or Democrat solution to the problem. Any real reform must have bipartisan support and, unlike Tim Bishop, Randy is willing to lead the way as a Member of Congress.

Allowing insurance to be sold across state lines to increase competition and lower rates.

Giving small businesses the ability to pool together and purchase healthcare for their employees as a group to lower rates.

Putting medical decisions in the hands of doctors and patients, not insurance company executives or government bureaucrats.

Reforming tenure so that bad teachers are no longer rewarded solely for longevity. Classroom results are what count.

Merit pay that rewards good teachers with higher pay for the educational success of their students.

Giving parents the choice to remove their children from failing schools and enroll them in better public schools, charter schools or private schools that can unlock their child’s potential and better prepare them for the real world. Or supporting parents who choose to home-school their children.

Ensuring that federal tax dollars spent on education improve the classroom and are not wasted on top-heavy administrations and glutted bureaucracy.

Promoting private investment in renewable energies such as wind, solar, water and bio-fuels that help conserve natural resources, protect the environment and create green energy jobs in the future.

Ensuring that President Obama’s “cap-and-trade” plan – supported by Tim Bishop – never becomes law. We simply cannot afford a national energy tax that will cost homeowners and businesses thousands of dollars more in energy costs for the next 10 years.

Honoring, respecting and rewarding all veterans regardless of where and when they served our country.

Improving the VA to cut bureaucratic red tape and ensure that veterans receive the very best medical care and timely, accurate delivery of their benefits.

Ensuring that veterans returning home from service in Iraq or Afghanistan are provided with a GI Bill educational program that will enable them to receive a first-rate college education or comparable technical training and job placement.

Increasing funding for intelligence and counter-terrorism operations. There are plenty of places to cut government and reduce spending without weakening our ability to identify, expose and scuttle terrorist attacks before they occur.

Providing our troops in Afghanistan, Iraq and around the world with the tools they need to fight and win the war on terror and then come home to us safe and well.

Increasing the number of Customs and Border Patrol agents, and providing them with the necessary tools and training to do their jobs.

Giving states the flexibility and freedom to address out-of-control illegal immigration that adversely impacts crime rates and local economies.

No bail for illegal immigrants who commit crimes in the United States.

A prohibition on the granting of drivers licenses, welfare payments or in-state college tuition breaks for illegal immigrants.

A comprehensive and viable regional peace process that cannot be imposed, there must exist tangible and concrete confidence gaining steps between Israel and her neighbors.

Jerusalem as the undivided and eternal capital of Israel.

Israel’s right to security and self-defense. We must ensure and strengthen Israel’s qualitative military advantage over potential adversaries.

Dissuading Iranian hegemonic ambitions through robust economic, diplomatic and political sanctions. Iran’s aggressive pursuit of nuclear capability, coupled with the recent advances in its medium- and long-range ballistic missile technology, constitutes an existential threat to the State of Israel and a grave and serious threat to the United States and our European and Arab allies.

The further promotion and nurturing of economic cooperation, business interests and technological research and development between the United States and Israel."

With incumbent Tim Bishop running unopposed in the Democratic primary, 2012 was a rematch of 2010, when Bishop beat Altschuler by a very narrow margin. Altschuler was seen as posing a serious threat to Bishop in 2012.[5]